3 - The Scope of Global Infectious Disease Research

Summary

Chapter 3 explains the process by which researchers identify pathogens ultimately used for public health research. It describes the field capture of animals, clinical sampling of animals and people, analysis for genetic sequencing data, transfer of samples to reference laboratories outside of low- or middle-income countries, and how confirmed infections are reported to public authorities for both public health and sovereign resource reasons. The chapter argues that the process by which researchers now obtain data requires far more bureaucratic barriers, but that correspondingly, researchers are more likely to partner with local scientists and institutions, thus building capacity for disease surveillance and response should an infectious disease threat emerge.